Tanzania’s U-20 national team, Ngorongoro Heroes, made a strong start to their CECAFA U-20 campaign after defeating Rwanda 3-0 at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The victory gives Tanzania a positive start in a tournament that is not only about defending their regional title but also provides a pathway to qualification for the 2027 AFCON U-20 finals in Ghana.
Arafat: We Want More Than One Match Victory
Ngorongoro Heroes captain Arafat Ally has made it clear that the squad is focused on the bigger picture in this tournament.
Arafat said the opening victory has boosted the players’ morale and confidence, but the job is not yet done. Tanzania are aiming to continue winning in order to maintain their bid to defend the CECAFA U-20 title.
That approach makes every match important, particularly given the tournament format, with Tanzania in Group A alongside Rwanda and Ethiopia.
Strong Start Against Rwanda
Ngorongoro Heroes showed their strength early in their opening match. Faraji Kayanda opened the scoring before Djuma Abushiri added the second, while Evastus Lukanima completed the victory before half-time.
All three goals came in the first half, allowing Tanzania to go into the break with a commanding advantage and ultimately hold on for the win until the final whistle. TFF also confirmed the 3-0 result.
Ethiopia Next
After opening the campaign with victory over Rwanda, Ngorongoro Heroes will now turn their attention to their match against Ethiopia, which is scheduled for September 19 at Uhuru Stadium.
Another victory could prove important in Tanzania’s journey to the next stage of the tournament. Ngorongoro Heroes will need a positive result against Ethiopia to strengthen their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
